A battlefield of just 64 black and white squares. Everyone starts with the exact same 16 pieces. Two competitors have a battle of wits trying to get the illustrious checkmate.

Hornby sent two teams into a chess competition on the 17th of May to compete against other schools in Canterbury.

The senior team, brains were on fire, consisted of Ray (Year 11) , Franz (Year 12), Chammy (Year 12), Luigi (Year 12), Joevick (Year 12), and Jerico (Year 13). They came 3rd on the day.

The junior team which was full of creative energy were:  Joseph (Year 7), Axle Brigs (Year 8), Jeff (Year 8), and Laser (Year 8). They came in 6th on the day.

Each competitor played seven matches against different opponents.

Jerico earned the 'checkmate by pawn' badge by pinning the opponent's king with one of his pawns and Franz, Luigi, Joevick and Chammy managed to win with three queens on the board to earn the 'three queens' badge. Luigi nailed the opponent's king with one of his knights earning him the 'checkmate with a knight' badge.